Inside the Billionaire Bunker Craze: Are Tech Giants Secretly Preparing for Doomsday?

Speculation is mounting over a growing trend among Silicon Valley elites — building secretive underground shelters that look a lot like doomsday bunkers.

Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg is among those drawing attention. Reports suggest that his sprawling 1,400-acre estate, Koolau Ranch, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, includes an underground shelter equipped with independent energy and food supplies. Contractors working on the project reportedly signed strict non-disclosure agreements, while a six-foot wall blocks the entire site from public view.

Although Zuckerberg has dismissed talk of a “doomsday bunker,” describing it instead as “just like a little shelter… a basement,” sceptics aren’t convinced. His property dealings have added fuel to the fire — the tech billionaire has reportedly purchased 11 properties worth $110 million in Palo Alto, California, allegedly linked by an underground space some neighbours call “the billionaire’s bat cave.”

The secrecy has triggered comparisons with other tech moguls who seem to be preparing for potential global crises. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman once described the idea of “apocalypse insurance,” suggesting that nearly half of the world’s super-rich have contingency plans in place — with New Zealand emerging as a popular refuge.

The question is: what do they know that we don’t?

Are these tech titans merely investing in privacy and security, or are they quietly preparing for war, climate collapse, or an unknown catastrophe?

As extreme weather, geopolitical tensions, and AI fears dominate global headlines, the rise of the billionaire bunker culture speaks volumes about the growing mistrust in global stability — and a widening divide between those who can afford safety and those left exposed.

While most people worry about power bills and rent, the world’s richest seem to be digging deeper — literally.